The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-02-17
ALDANA'S WIDOW.
How She Saved Her House from
Robbery.

ROBBERY.
"Mamacita," cried Blasa Aldana,
coming across the patio with old Dolores.
her sometimes nurse and present maid,
shnfhing at her heels; .'mamacita! The
Sacnz were robbed last night. The
door of the sala was broken in and the
house rnnsacked. Lupe's pearls are
gone. with all the silver cups, and
spoons. and ladies, and Julio's charro
suit that cost three hundred dollars,
and, oh! u lot of money Don Lauro had
in his chest.
Cleofas Mora, widow of Aldana,
shook her head in silent comment. She
had heard all too much in the last few
weeks of the depredations committed
by The lawlcss gentry who had just be-
gun to work their way up to Chihuahua
from the States below.
sAnd, Mammal" said Blasita, "Lupe
6acnz ssys that Lorenzo Garcia has
been walking past her window every
night this week. and she is quite sure
he cares more for her than for Angus
tina"
"Chisnacs..'' then answered Cleofas
Mora. "Why do you retail gossip?
|. Have / not heart and hands full al
ready, that you should come babbling
of Guadalupe Saenz and her iiirtations?
! thank the saints that my Agustina is
q prudent child, who does not take up
with every young blade that appears
on the Alameda. Who is this Lorenzo
Garciaf-whence comes he?-to whom
does he bring lettersa In my young
days we knew who a man might be be-
fore we owned he watched under Dur
windows. A pretty pass we are COM
ing to, with the free and easy manners
the American women have brought
among u.s.
Now, truth to tell, Dona Cleofas was,
on antaverage, little Of a scold; but to-
day she was sore distraught. She was
the fortunate possessor of means, mod
crate enough to be sure, but still ade-
quate for her needs; and she and hers
were gifted with sound minds and
bodies. But at the present moment
she was much exercised in spirit, and
over the very two matters on which
Blasita had touched so glibly. There
was no doubt that Lorenzo Garcia had
been making tentative advances toward
the house of Aldana. And there was
equal certainty that Agustina was
rather kindly disposed to hearken to
the voice of the charmer, coyly as yet,
it was true, and not to q compromising
degree; but Dona Cleofas foresaw a
lively contest for the day when
the girl should definitely decide for
her quasi admiryr, for Augustine was
endowed with some tenacity of pur-
pose. Lorenzo Garcia was a stranger
in chihuahua, for whom none could
vouch, and, for all his handsome eyes
and suaye address, Dona Cleofas had
no notion of passing over to his control
one-third of the snug little sum she had
Laid by as dowry for her daughters.
Now, too, Dona Cleofas had another
source of disturbance, which she would
by no means impart to her household,
composed exclusively of women as it
was. In the silent hours of the pre-
ceding night, she had heard clearly
and Enthusiastically the sound of feet
moving cautiously in the little court OF
her domicile, and her big watchdog
Pinto had been found stiff and dead
that morning, although none save her.
self had thought of the cause she con.
fdently assigned for his demise. Sc
far as appeared, there was no protec.
ton to be had. The Aldana abode
was rather isolated, and the very pc.
cnliarities of architectural form which
render a Mexican house almost like 8
fortress t. outside attack, virtually cut
of communication with and assistance
from the outside world, once the foe
has gained foothold within the gates
In those days, the police force of Chi.
huahua, now admirably organized,
was Insignificant both as to numerical
strength and effectiveness. Their
Dona Cleofas, imbued with tie spirit
of woman's subjugation : and socia,
passivity Of her rae and day, felt thai
she could call on no man of her &C.
q~uaintance for succor or protection.
There was nothing to do but await the
course of events.
The day went on, slowly enough
perhaps, to Augustine, before whose
eyes the form of Lorenzo appeared not
but all too swiftly for her mother, en-,
during a sort of b~reathless apprehen
sion. Night fell, and the little family
shut inside their four walls, passed thu
long winter evening as best they might
At bedtime Dona Cleofas caller hel
people together, and, to their surpris'
and against their protests, m~arshalet
them away to q great room, a guest
chamber rarely used, which lay at tn,
rear of the house, toward the kitchens
and which was strongly defended, hav
ing nj windows, but only heavy oakel
doors. These Dona Cleofas locked ant
barred securely, and mustered he
flock together.
"Hush, Blasa! and you, too, Angus
tina. But look you at Eduardo, tn
youngest of you all-how silently sh
obeys, while you set up a clamor. VIII,
do l bring you hereP, Because 1 will SO
then. How now! Am 1 no longe
mistress in my own abode? Here ar
three beds with ample pillows-get yo
to rest. And you, Beata. Hermelind
and Dolores''-to the sewing women
spread out your blankets here on tn
floor, near the ninas, and let me hea
not 50 much rs a chirp from one of 20
till I call you in the morning"
Thus. Disgusting her tenderness an
anxious fears with sever speech, lik
many a woman of greater lore befor
her, Dona Cleofas summarily locke
the one remaining door. from the ou'
side and marched away alone. Sh
was confident that if trouble were in
minent, it would come in the directio
of the little shop that was her source {
income, where was u respectable stoc
of goods of worth, and readily por